Augustus tufts



* UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

AUGUSTUS TUFTS, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO EMILY H. TUFTS, OF SAME PLACE.

OIL-CAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 322,569, dated July 21, 1885.

Application filed February 16, 1885.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS TUFTS, of Malden, county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Oil-Cans, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like letters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention is intended as an improvement upon that class of can especially adapted for containing illuminating-oil, and has for its object to provide the can with means for controlling the discharge-opening and simultaneously controlling a vent-valve at the top of the can for the inlet of air.

The invention consists in the combination, with an outlet or discharge valve controlling the discharge-opening, of a spring-controlled air-inlet valve situated at the top of the can, and suitable connecting devices by which movement is imparted from the inlet to the discharge valve, as will be hereinafter described.

The drawing shows in elevation a can embodying my invention, the same being partially broken away to more clearly, show the operating parts.

The can-body A, top portion, B, spout G, handle D, and hail E are all as usual, so need not be herein described.

An air-inlet or vent-valve is placed at the top of the cannear the handle D, and is constructed in this instance as follows: a stem or rod, 12, of suitable length has secured to it near its middle portion a conical valve-plate, a, which enters the valve-seat c, rigidly secured to the main portion of the can. The stem or rod 6 has also secured to it at or near its outer end a disk or plate, 6, and it also supports a thumb-plate, b. A spiral spring, d, surrounding the stem or rod 1), is interposed between the disk 8 and valve-seat c, which normally tends to keep the valve-plate a in its seat. A small tube, f, provided with air inlets or openings 2 2, is soldered or otherwise secured to the valve-seat c, and incloses both the spiral spring (1 and its bearing-disk e, and is of such length as to serve as an abutment for the thumb-plate b when the spring is de- 50 pressed. The stem or rod 12 at its lower end (No model.)

is connected with a bell-crank lever, g, pivoted to a bracket, h, by a suitable pin, h. The outlet or discharge valve controlling the discharge-opening of the spout 0 comprises a ball, z, seated in a cup-shaped valve-seat, i, the stem i of the valve being connected with one arm of and havingits movement controlled by the bell-crank lever g.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The operator, grasping the handle D firmly, tips the can to the desired position. Then by depressingv the thumb-plate b the valve-plate a is opened, admitting air to the interiorof the can. I This movement, by means of the bell-crank lever 9, simultaneously opens the outlet or discharge valve i, thus permitting the oil or fluid to flow from the spout C. When it is desired to stop the discharge of oil, the thumb-plate b is simply released, permitting the spring cl to return the parts to their normal position, thus closing both valves.

It will readily be seen that for filling lamps, oil-stoves, &c., where the can has to be tipped to a considerable extent, great advantage is obtained by the employment of this apparatus, as the can may be tipped to any position and the oil will not escape until desired by the operator.

The apparatus is simple and easily operated, and the thumb-plate b, being so located with relation to the handle, affords a convenient and natural bearing-place for the thumb of the operator.

It is obvious that the discharge-valve and the connecting devices may be omitted, the vent-valve alone being used, which permits a more free escape of oil than in cans of ordinary construction.

I claim- 1. In an oil-can, the combination, with the c top portion, B, of a vent-valve comprising a valveseat and valve-plate secured to a stem, to which also is attached a thumb-plate, a spiral spring surrounding thestem, and a tube,

f, surrounding the spiral spring and being se- 5 cured to the valve-seat, substantially as described.

2. In an oil-can, the combination, with the top portion, B, of a vent-valve comprising a valve-seat and valve-plate secured to a stem, 10o

to which also is attached a disk and thumband bell-crank lever pivoted to abracket conplate, a spiral spring interposed between the necting the said valve-stein with the rod or disk and valve-seat surrounding the stem, and stem of the vent-valve, substantially as de- I 5 a tube, f, provided with air-inlets surroundscribed. v

5 ing the spiral spring and being secured to the In testimony whereof I have signed my valve-seat, substantially as described. name to this specification in the presence of 3. In an oil-can, the combination, with the two subscribing Witnesses. top portion, B, having the spout and the vent- AUGUSTUS TUFTS valve, as described, of a discharge-valve com- 10 prising a cup-shaped seat secured to the top \Vitnesses:

portion at the entrance to the said spout, a JOHN OOOHRANE, J r., ball-valve cooperating therewith, valve-stem B. J. NoYEs. 

